The Stoic and Epicurean thinker inherited the notion of Eudaimonia from Aristotle, that we should pursue that which will result in happiness/contentment/satisfaction in life.

Ehrman argues The Epicurean Solution: Go Wholesome, not Wild
▪Friends
▪Good food and drink
▪Reading and thoughtful contemplation
▪Meaningful conversation
▪Avoidance of stress
▪Small community
▪Apart from the world outside

On the other hand, Ehrman says Stoics said:

▪ Most things are outside of our control (health, wealth, possessions,
employment, actions of others)
▪ Some things are entirely in our own control (views of right and wrong,
sense of good and bad, acceptance of truth and error, self-esteem,
reactions to events, what we choose to do)
▪ Reason shows we should care only about what we can control
▪ Everything else is “indifferent” – of no concern to us.
▪ Does your house burn down, your spouse leave you, your neighbor
punch you in the nose?
▪ Hey, that’s not in your control! So what’s the point of letting it affect
your internal state of well being?
▪ For eudaimonia: focus within and choose what to care about

When we get into Judaism and Jesus, we are going to move beyond a self-realization ethics to an other-centered ethics where traditionally burdensome/needy such as widow, orphan, stranger and enemy are seen as more important than self even to the point of dying to save them. For example, as Stephen stood before the Jewish ruling council (the Sanhedrin) to face charges of blasphemy, the text states: Acts 6:15: “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” While some modern translations describe his face as “bright” or “radiant”, biblical scholars often view this as a literal, visible supernatural glow similar to how Moses’ face shone after he spoke with God. While the Bible does not explicitly use the word “glow” during the actual stoning, it describes a heavenly experience that likely maintained his radiant appearance. In the forgiving death of Stephen, like its literary mirror the forgiving death of Jesus, something of the doxa theou is revealed, and some such as Goicoechea suggest this memory of glory in Stephen’s face was the catalyst for Paul’s conversion vision.